Chitwan, July 17:

Former Prime Minister and president of the Nepali Congress- Democratic (NC-D) Sher Bahadur Deuba today said the budget was allocated for the king, as he was still the king.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Chitwan chapter of Press Union here, he said, “Since the fate of the monarchy will be decided by the constituent assembly, budget has to be allocated for the king till the CA polls were held.”

Regarding security for Maoist chief Prachanda, Deuba said, “ We don’t have to complain about the agreements we had signed. It the duty of the state to provide security to the Maoist leaders.”

Opposing Prachanda’s proposal to involve YCL cadres in the security of the CA polls, he said, “There can be no force parallel to the armed and civil police.”

Stressing the need of creating a conducive atmosphere for the CA polls, he said, “The activities of Young Communist League and Tarai violence must be brought to an end

at the earliest.”

When asked about the unification of the NC and the NC (D), he said, “I don’t know about that. All I know is that I don’t need the post of party president and the prime minister.”

Regarding the verification of the PLA personnel, he said, “Since UNMIN is her on our request, we have to obey what Ian Martin says.”

NC-D vice-president Prakash Man Singh also spoke on the occasion.